System and method for an automated sales system with remote negotiation and post-sale verification

• US 8,266,032 B1
• Filed: 05/11/2011
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joshua David Nathanson
• Original Assignee: Joshua David Nathanson
• Inventors: Nathanson, Joshua David
• Primary Examiner(s): Colbert, Ella
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shaikh, Mohammad Z
• Application Number:
  US13/068,452
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 705 35- 45
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0275 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method to process items for sale or bid, to transmit electronic negotiations between prospective buyer and seller, and to verify the condition of the item before delivery to the buyer. The invention facilitates autonomous and remote negotiation between sellers and prospective buyers while protecting buyers from fraud and item misrepresentation. With the present invention, items can be sold individually and are not treated as standardized items that are interchangeable with similar commodity goods. The present invention also provides a waitlisting function. In addition, the functionality of traditional auction systems may be integrated with the novel features of the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention provides a system and method for conducting a reverse auction by allowing prospective buyers to list desired items.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for facilitating the negotiation and sale of an item between a seller and at least one bidder across a network, said seller and said at least one bidder being remote from one another, said method comprising:

receiving, from said seller to said at least one bidder, item data about said item, said item data comprising sales terms, and wherein said item is at least one physical item or at least one service item for sale;

counteroffering, by said seller, in response to an offer by said at least one bidder, with new sales terms to said at least one bidder,

wherein said new sales terms include a new price, said new price being less than a listed ask price in said item data and greater than a bid price in said offer,

wherein said offer of said at least one bidder and the counteroffer by said seller are relayed in substantially real-time; and

selecting, among said at least one bidder, a buyer of said item at said new sales terms,

wherein, in said selecting, if a particular at least one bidder or a different bidder offers terms at or above said new sales terms, the particular or different bidder is selected as the buyer of said item at said terms,

wherein communications between said seller and said at least one bidder involve at least one electronic device,

wherein said seller, in said counteroffering, employs at least one electronic device to forward said new sales terms to said at least one bidder.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of counteroffering, at new sales terms, to an offer by said at least one bidder is repeated a plurality of times.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein, after the step of counteroffering by said seller with new sales terms to said at least one bidder, an offer from a different bidder is received at or above said new sales terms and said different buyer is automatically selected as the buyer of said item at said new sales terms.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein offers from said at least one bidder to said seller below a minimum value are automatically rejected.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, after the step of selecting, the step of:

adding other prospective bidders to a waitlist for said item until said item is conveyed to said buyer.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

after said item is conveyed to said buyer, removing prospective bidders from said waitlist.

7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

adding said item data to a wantlist of desired items for said prospective bidders.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one bidder is the first prospective bidder on a waitlist for said item.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one bidder has said item data in a wantlist of desired items.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein, prior to said step of receiving, said item failed to sell at auction and said item was automatically offered for bid.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of selecting is performed within a time limit.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said time limit is determined by a party, said party being selected from the group consisting of at least one of said seller, said at least one bidder, and a negotiation administrator.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein a negotiation administrator ensures said negotiation and said sale comply with rules, said rules determining allowable item data, and persons permitted to be said seller and said at least one bidder.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said seller and said at least one bidder are remote from said negotiation administrator.

15. A computer-implemented method for facilitating the negotiation and sale of an item between a seller and at least one bidder across a network, said seller and said at least one bidder being remote from one another, said method comprising:

receiving, from said at least one bidder, item data about said item and a first offer to purchase said item at first sales terms, said item data comprising sales terms, and wherein said item is at least one physical item or at least one service item for sale;

receiving, from said seller, a second offer to sell said item at new sales terms; and

selecting said at least one bidder to buy said item at said new sales terms,

wherein, in said selecting, if a particular at least one bidder or a different bidder offers terms at or above said new sales terms, the particular or different bidder is selected as the buyer of said item at said terms,

wherein said new sales terms in said second offer from said seller includes a price for said item above an original price set by said seller and below a price in said first sales terms from said at least one bidder,

wherein communications between said seller and said at least one bidder involve at least one electronic device,

wherein said seller, in said receiving, employs at least one electronic device to forward said second offer with new sales terms.

16. A computer-implemented method for facilitating the negotiation and sale of an item between a seller and at least one bidder across a network, said seller and said at least one bidder being remote from one another, said method comprising:

receiving, from said seller to said at least one bidder, item data about said item, said item data comprising sales terms, and wherein said item is at least one physical item or at least one service item for sale;

counteroffering, by said seller, in response to an offer by said at least one bidder to said seller, with new sales terms to said at least one bidder,

wherein said new sales terms include a new price, said new price being greater than a bid price in said offer, said bid price being greater than or equal to a listed ask price in said item data, and said offer of said at least one bidder and the counteroffer by said seller being relayed in substantially real-time; and

selecting, among said at least one bidder, a buyer of said item at said new sales terms,

wherein, in said selecting, if a particular at least one bidder or a different bidder offers terms at or above said new sales terms, the particular or different bidder is selected as the buyer of said item at said terms,

wherein communications between said seller and said at least one bidder involve at least one electronic device,

wherein said seller, in said counteroffering, employs at least one electronic device to forward said new sales terms to said at least one bidder.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein said step of counteroffering, at new sales terms, to an offer by said at least one bidder is repeated a plurality of times.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein, after the step of counteroffering by said seller with new sales terms to said at least one bidder, an offer from a different bidder is received at or above said new sales terms and said different buyer is automatically selected as the buyer of said item at said new sales terms.

19. The method according to claim 16, further comprising, after the step of selecting, the step of:

adding other prospective bidders to a waitlist for said item until said item is conveyed to said buyer.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising:

after said item is conveyed to said buyer, removing prospective bidders from said waitlist.

21. The method according to claim 19, further comprising:

adding said item data to a wantlist of desired items for said prospective bidders.

22. The method according to claim 16, wherein said at least one bidder is the first prospective bidder on a waitlist for said item.

23. The method according to claim 16, wherein said at least one bidder has said item data in a wantlist of desired items.

24. The method according to claim 16, wherein, prior to said receiving, said item failed to sell at auction and said item was automatically offered for bid.

25. The method according to claim 16, wherein said step of selecting is performed within a time limit.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein said time limit is determined by a party, said party being selected from the group consisting of at least one of said seller, said at least one bidder, and a negotiation administrator.

27. The method according to claim 16, wherein a negotiation administrator ensures said negotiation and said sale comply with rules, said rules determining allowable item data, and persons permitted to be said seller and said at least one bidder.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein said seller and said at least one bidder are remote from said negotiation administrator.

29. A computer-implemented system for facilitating the negotiation and sale of an item between a seller and at least one bidder across a network, said seller and said at least one bidder being remote from one another, said system comprising:

means for receiving from said seller to said at least one bidder, item data about said item, said item data comprising sales terms, and wherein said item is at least one physical item or at least one service item for sale;

means for counteroffering by said seller, in response to an offer by said at least one bidder to said seller, with new sales terms to said at least one bidder,

wherein said new sales terms include a new price, said new price being less than a listed ask price in said item data and greater than a bid price in said offer, and said offer of said at least one bidder and the counteroffer by said seller being relayed in substantially real-time;

means for selecting, among said at least one bidder, a buyer of said item at said new sales terms,

wherein, in said means for selecting, if a particular at least one bidder or a different bidder offers terms at or above said new sales terms, the particular or different bidder is selected as the buyer of said item at said terms,

wherein said system includes communications means between said seller and said at least one bidder.

30. The system according to claim 29, wherein said step of counteroffering, at new sales terms, to an offer by said at least one bidder is repeated a plurality of times.

31. The system according to claim 29, wherein, after the step of counteroffering by said seller with new sales terms to said at least one bidder, an offer from a different bidder is received at or above said new sales terms and said different buyer is automatically selected as the buyer of said item at said new sales terms.

32. The system according to claim 29, wherein offers from said at least one bidder to said seller below a minimum value are automatically rejected.

33. The system according to claim 29, further comprising:

means for adding other prospective bidders to a waitlist for said item until said item is conveyed to said buyer.

34. The system according to claim 33, further comprising:

means for removing, after said item is conveyed to said buyer, prospective bidders from said waitlist.

35. The system according to claim 33, further comprising:

means for adding said item data to a wantlist of desired items for said prospective bidders.

36. The system according to claim 29, wherein said at least one bidder is the first prospective bidder on a waitlist for said item.

37. The system according to claim 29, wherein said at least one bidder has said item data in a wantlist of desired items.

38. The system according to claim 29, wherein said item failed to sell at an auction and said item was automatically offered for bid.

39. The system according to claim 29, wherein said step of selecting is performed within a time limit.

40. The system according to claim 39, wherein said time limit is determined by a party, said party being selected from the group consisting of at least one of said seller, said at least one bidder, and a negotiation administrator.

41. The system according to claim 29, wherein a negotiation administrator ensures said negotiation and said sale comply with rules, said rules determining allowable item data, and persons permitted to be said seller and said at least one bidder.

42. The system according to claim 41, wherein said seller and said at least one bidder are remote from said negotiation administrator.

43. A system for facilitating the negotiation and sale of an item between a seller and at least one bidder across a network, said seller and said at least one bidder being remote from one another, said system comprising:

means for receiving, from said at least one bidder, item data about said item and a first offer to purchase said item at first sales terms, said item data comprising sales terms, and wherein said item is at least one physical item or at least one service item for sale;

means for receiving from said seller a second offer to sell said item at new sales terms; and

means for selecting said at least one bidder to buy said item at said new sales terms;

wherein, in said means for selecting, if a particular at least one bidder or a different bidder offers terms at or above said new sales terms, the particular or different bidder is selected as the buyer of said item at said terms,

wherein said new sales terms in said second offer from said seller includes a price for said item above an original price set by said seller and below a price in said first sales terms from said at least one bidder,

wherein said system includes communications means between said seller and said at least one bidder.

44. A system for facilitating the negotiation and sale of an item between a seller and at least one bidder across a network, said seller and said at least one bidder being remote from one another, said system comprising:

means for receiving, from said seller to said at least one bidder, item data about said item, said item data comprising sales terms, and wherein said item is at least one physical item or a service item for sale;

means for counteroffering by said seller, in response to an offer by said at least one bidder to said seller, with new sales terms to said at least one bidder,

wherein said new sales terms include a new price, said new price being greater than a bid price in said offer, said bid price being greater than or equal to a listed ask price in said item data, and said offer of said at least one bidder and the counteroffer by said seller being relayed in substantially real-time; and

means for selecting, among said at least one bidder, a buyer of said item at said new sales terms;

wherein, in said means for selecting, if a particular at least one bidder or a different bidder offers terms at or above said new sales terms, the particular or different bidder is selected as the buyer of said item at said terms,

wherein communications between said seller and said at least one bidder involve at least one electronic device.

45. The system according to claim 44, wherein said step of counteroffering, at new sales terms, to an offer by said at least one bidder is repeated a plurality of times.

46. The system according to claim 44, wherein, after the step of counteroffering by said seller with new sales terms to said at least one bidder, an offer from a different bidder is received at or above said new sales terms and said different buyer is automatically selected as the buyer of said item at said new sales terms.

47. The system according to claim 44, further comprising:

means for adding other prospective bidders to a waitlist for said item until said item is conveyed to said buyer.

48. The system according to claim 47, further comprising:

means for removing, after said item is conveyed to said buyer, prospective bidders from said waitlist.

49. The system according to claim 47, further comprising:

means for adding said item data to a wantlist of desired items for said prospective bidders.

50. The system according to claim 44, wherein said at least one bidder is the first prospective bidder on a waitlist for said item.

51. The system according to claim 44, wherein said at least one bidder has said item data in a wantlist of desired items.

52. The system according to claim 44, wherein, prior to said step of receiving, said item failed to sell at auction and said item was automatically offered for bid.

53. The system according to claim 44, wherein said step of selecting is performed within a time limit.

54. The system according to claim 53, wherein said time limit is determined by a party, said party being selected from the group consisting of at least one of said seller, said at least one bidder, and a negotiation administrator.

55. The system according to claim 44, wherein a negotiation administrator ensures said negotiation and said sale comply with rules, said rules determining allowable item data, and persons permitted to be said seller and said at least one bidder.

56. The system according to claim 55, wherein said seller and said at least one bidder are remote from said negotiation administrator.

57. A non-transitory data storage medium with computer-executable instructions thereon for facilitating the negotiation and sale of an item between a seller and at least one bidder across a network, said seller and said at least one bidder being remote from one another, said data storage medium comprising:

instructions for receiving, from said seller to said at least one bidder, item data about said item, said item data comprising sales terms, and wherein said item is at least one physical item or at least one service item for sale;

in response to an offer by said at least one bidder to said seller, instructions for counteroffering, by said seller, with new sales terms to said at least one bidder,

wherein said new sales terms include a new price, said new price being less than a listed ask price in said item data and greater than a bid price in said offer, and said offer of said at least one bidder and the counteroffer by said seller being relayed in substantially real-time; and

instructions for selecting, among said at least one bidder, a buyer of said item at said new sales terms,

wherein, in said selecting, if a particular at least one bidder or a different bidder offers terms at or above said new sales terms, the particular or different bidder is selected as the buyer of said item at said terms.

58. A non-transitory data storage medium with computer-executable instructions thereon for facilitating the negotiation and sale of an item between a seller and at least one bidder across a network, said seller and said at least one bidder being remote from one another, said data storage medium comprising:

instructions for receiving, from said at least one bidder, item data about said item and a first offer to purchase said item at first sales terms, said item data comprising sales terms, and wherein said item is at least one physical item or at least one service item for sale;

instructions for receiving from said seller a second offer to sell said item at new sales terms; and

instructions for selecting said at least one bidder to buy said item at said new sales terms,

wherein, in said selecting, if a particular at least one bidder or a different bidder offers terms at or above said new sales terms, the particular or different bidder is selected as the buyer of said item at said terms;

wherein said new sales terms in said second offer from said seller includes a price for said item above an original price set by said seller and below a price in said first sales terms from said at least one bidder.

59. A non-transitory data storage medium with computer-executable instructions thereon for facilitating the negotiation and sale of an item between a seller and at least one bidder across a network, said seller and said at least one bidder being remote from one another, said data storage medium comprising:

instructions for receiving, from said seller to said at least one bidder, item data about said item, said item data comprising sales terms, and wherein said item is at least one physical item or at least one service item for sale;

in response to an offer by said at least one bidder to said seller, instructions for counteroffering, by said seller, with new sales terms to said at least one bidder,

wherein said new sales terms include a new price, said new price being greater than a bid price in said offer, said bid price being greater than or equal to a listed ask price in said item data, and said offer of said at least one bidder and the counteroffer by said seller being relayed in substantially real-time; and

instructions for selecting, among said at least one bidder, a buyer of said item at said new sales terms,

wherein, in said selecting, if a particular at least one bidder or a different bidder offers terms at or above said new sales terms, the particular or different bidder is selected as the buyer of said item at said terms.